KIRKLAND – Northwest launches its 2021 volleyball season with four matches in Montana this weekend at the Big Sky Challenge in Butte.
The Eagles start the season Friday at 10 a.m. (Pacific) with Rocky Mountain, which received points in the NAIA preseason poll and are the No. 26 team. NU then battles No. 14 Providence Friday at 2 p.m. NU starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday against Carroll before a 2 p.m. finale against Montana Tech.
Rocky Mountain went 18-3 last season and open the 2021 season Friday morning. The Battlin' Bears return three of its top four attackers, its top four blockers, and its digs leader.
Providence went 22-3 last season and returns its leaders in kills, assists, blocks, and digs.
Carroll was 10-10 last season and brings back their top seven attackers, top two setters, top three blockers, and top two defensive specialists.
Montana Tech went 9-11 last season but is off to a 4-0 start this year after four 3-0 sweeps in Florida.
The games are being streamed live on Youtube at the montanatechathletics Youtube site.
Last year's pandemic-altered season saw the Eagles finish at 2-4 after a 0-4 start. Northwest was 13th in the NAIA with 2.15 aces per game, 48th with a .192 hitting percentage, and 49th with 2.0 blocks per game.
Abigail Broussard returns in the middle for the Eagles. She was second on the team with 2.5 kills per game. Broussard was second in the NAIA with 0.8 aces per game and fifth with 1.35 blocks per game.
Anna Saelens will handle most of the setting duties with
Allie Flynn sidelined with injury for now. Saelens averaged 3.35 assists per game last season while sharing time with
Courteney Carr.
Brousard and Megan (Miller) Horne averaged 2.5 and 1.8 kills, respectively, last season.
Jill Botsford,
Karste Wright, and
Reece Denney will be counted on as well.
Azaria Johnson,
Susanna Bailey, and
Kalei Kepler are looking to step into a starting role in the middle this season.
Cristina Lorenz returns as the starting libero from last season. She and
Kelsey Cummins are projected to see significant playing time, along with
Eleanor Mason.
